Photo taken on Sept. 2 shows the renovation is underway. [Photo/Xinhua]

A large-scale renovation is being carried out in the Labrang Monastery, Sangchu County of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Gansu Province, Xinhua reported.

The renovation made for the first time in over 300 years of the monastery’s history, was launched in April 2013 and will take more than five years to be completed.

The renovation covers various aspects, including security protection, fire control, color decoration, as well as restorations of murals and main buildings. It has so far not affected activities of both pilgrims and tourists.

Authority said after the renovation the Labrang Monastery will apply for the world’s cultural heritage.

The monastery houses a great many precious culture relics, which have hidden dangers since most of the buildings there, in disrepair for a long time, face severe wall cracking and ground subsidence.

The monastery was founded in 1709. At its height, the monastery housed about 4,000 monks in its 90 halls, with 31 residential and academic buildings, and more than 500 scripture-reading rooms.

It was rated as a national key cultural relics protection unit in 1982.

Photo taken on Sept. 2 shows the renovation is underway. [Photo/Xinhua]

Photo taken on Sept. 2 shows the renovation is underway. [Photo/Xinhua]

Photo taken on Sept. 2 shows the renovation is underway. [Photo/Xinhua]